“Ben’s not ready for that fight yet. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Hearn said to the media.
Hearn described Morrell as an elite light heavyweight and grouped him with established names at the top of the division, placing him above where Whittaker is operating.
Whittaker has not yet fought a 12-round bout as a professional. Hearn said the focus remains on building him through a structured progression rather than moving directly into top-level opposition.
“We’re not fighting at that level yet,” Hearn said. “Whittaker needs three or four fights before we’re fighting at that level.”
Hearn said that Whittaker is already committed to his next bout following a short training camp, removing any chance of a late opponent switch to someone at Morrell’s level.
The plan includes a return on June 27 against a U.S. opponent. Hearn said the next step after that would be a domestic-level fight against contenders such as Anthony Yarde or Lyndon Arthur, with a world title fight to follow.
Fan reaction to the current direction has been negative, with criticism focused on the level of opposition and the pace of Whittaker’s progression. Morrell also weighed in, noting that Whittaker is older than him while still being developed as a prospect.
Whittaker turns 29 on June 6, adding further attention to the timeline for a step up in competition. Hearn did not give a specific date for when that move would come.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalist Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) headlines against Braian Nahuel Suarez (21-4, 20 KOs) in a 10-round fight on April 18 on DAZN from Liverpool Arena in Liverpool. Whittaker was moved into the main event after Callum Smith withdrew from his scheduled fight with Morrell.
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